Comparing the overall survival rates to general life expectancy predictions after radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer.

This study compared the overall survival rates to general life expectancy predictions after radical prostatectomy (RP; prostate removal surgery) in German patients with localized prostate cancer. The study found that low- and intermediate-risk patients treated with RP have increased overall survival rates compared to general life expectancy predictions.

Localized prostate cancer (PCa) is a form of cancer that has not spread beyond the prostate gland. PCa can be treated by surgery, radiation, or hormone therapy. Since PCa is more common in the older men, patient age and estimated life expectancy (LE) are important factors to be considered while deciding treatment options.

Radical prostatectomy (RP) surgically removes the prostate and the surrounding tissues in patients with PCa. Patients treated with RP usually have favorable cancer and survival outcomes. RP is usually performed in patients with good general health. Whether patients with good general health and favorable cancer outcomes have overall survival (OS) rates comparable to LE predictions is not known.

This study involved a total of 6483 patients with PCa. All the patients were treated with RP. Patients were divided into 3 groups before surgery (1-3) and 3 groups after surgery (4-6). Group 1 included 2508 patients with a low risk of PCa. Group 2 included 2395 patients with intermediate-risk of PCa. Group 3 included 517 patients with a high risk of PCa. Group 4 included 3779 patients with a low risk of recurrence. Group 5 included 1752 patients with intermediate-risk of recurrence. Group 6 included 766 patients with a high risk of recurrence. The average follow-up time was 144 months. The survival outcomes of these patients were compared to those of the general population (LE).

The 10-year overall survival (OS) rate for all patients with PCa was 9.5% higher compared to the LE (90.7% vs 81.2%). The 10-year OS rate for group 1 was 12% higher than the predicted LE (93.2% vs 81.2%). For group 2, the 10-year OS rate was 9.2% more than the predicted LE (89.8% vs 80.6%). For group 3, the 10-year OS rate was 0.8% more than the predicted LE (82.6% vs 81.8%).

The 10-year OS rate for group 4 was 11.8% more than the predicted LE (93.1% vs 81.3%). For group 5, the 10-year OS rate was 9.7% more than the predicted LE (90.9% vs 81.2%). For group 6, the 10-year OS rate was 0.3% less than the predicted LE (79.1% vs 79.4%).

This study concluded that low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients treated with RP have increased survival rates compared to LE predictions.

This study looked back in time at medical records and only included German patients. Data may not apply to other populations with different LE predictions.